The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-17


luton was before tho Senate Senator Camp
bell replied that he did, at the time, suggest that
the standing committee was the proper one to
have charge OF the investigation. les, but you
voted for the appointment of special commit
tee, as did, undertake to say. ali other Sena-
tors said Senator Bailey
II undertake to say remarked Senator How
ard, of Decatur, who has heretofore been near to
the council of the Senator from Jennings. that
did not vote for the resolution" Senator Bailey
was confused at this break in the line of support
that had always been inflexible even in the most
trying emergency of partisan tyranny, and
quickly found reason for bringing his remarks
to a close Senator Weir thought the circum
stances may have justified the appointment of a
special committee, which had often been done
relative TO other INVESTIGATIONS He did not
think it was reflection on the regular commit
tee, and hoped its members would not resign.
Senator Rahm said that while no member wished
to reflect Senator Shively, he did not object to
the appointment OF the special committee so
much as to the action attending the motion of
Senator French to reconsider the vote by which
the Shively resolution was adopted. He had
| faith IN and n high regard for Senator French
and thought his motives were sincere to have
the special committee abolished and the investi-
cation referred to the standing committee on
benevolent institutions. The motion to recon
| slider lay upon the table waiting action, and in
! the meantime the Chair appointed Senator
French to the vacancy the special committee,
caused by the resignation of Senator Shively.
The next thing to occur is the withdrawal of the
motion to reconsider the vote By which the special
| committee was created. He was certain Senator
| French had been requested to do it I'VE of the
| committee Senator Rahm continued, may
not be as sharp as some lawyers, but we know
! thing or two, and one is that Senator French
was requested to withdraw his motion to recon
| siderr
| Senator Weir tried to smooth down possible
| asperities by stating that the withdrawal was
made with the consent of the Senate. Whether
| made with or without the consent of the Senate.
1 "a nhof~ rNfk I'd ha
nevolent institutions was not in the mood to be
appeased, The wrong to my committee he
said, twas in the withdrawal Of the motion to re-
consider. If we are not able to attend to this
! investigation, in the name of God, Mr. Presl-
| dent, why did you appoint us?"
| why did not you" asked Senator Smith from
Jennings, in slight attempt to brighten Senator
| Kahn. with his brusqueness, why cid not you
proceed to investigate these charges against the
management of the institutions instead of say
ing that you could not get tbs committee to take
| them up?'
Il made no such statement the Senator re-
piled Il said the matter had been talked about
two or three times in committee meetings, but
we had as yet done nothing. One of our COM
mittee. who was also appointed to the special
| committee thought the action to enable certain
| men to do the work our committee ought to do
was an insult. | understood the reason for ap-
/ pointing this special committee was that they did
| not want me to go to the bottom of the charges
! and bring forth the truth" This, coming from
Democrat and one who had never failed to vote
| with his party, even on some of the
most extravaeant and arbitrary propositions,
| startled the Senators who are supposed to do the
| bidding of Senator Smith. brief respite from
| a condition of apprehension appeared in what
Senator French said. but he really made matters
/ for the Smith Bailey coterie worse by stating
mo one ever came and asked me to withdraw
the motion to reconsider talked with no one
except the President about the matter. Before
he appointed me to succeed Senator Shively on
the special committee he called me to him that
afternoon and told me what he intended to do
| said did not want the place on the committee
when he asked me to serve, but he would not
consent to my refusal and / accepted. After
this concluded as could do nothing more, TO
withdraw my motion to reconsider"
when l signed the resignation of my place
on the standing committee on benevolent insttu-
tons l was in earnest said Senator Cox an-
other Democrat who has shown his willingness
to serve his party, no doubt at times contrary
to his better judgment. 'The Senate may just
as we'll accept my resignation for will never at
tend another meeting of that committee" 1t
was with no mild emphasis the Senator uttered
this Il had the spirit of determination and
anger about it that left no room for mistakes as
to his meaning. Desperate ends require
desperate means The scheme to vindicate
the Democratic management of the
| institutions through special committee was
in danger of being blasted in the party itself
It did not REQUIRE any violent exercise Of imag-
ination to think of the spirit of opposition, that
has often disturbed Democratic caucuses since
having come among the terrifying majority Of
the Senate. Senator Smith, from Jennings, OBJ
served it with distressing expectations as to the
result il any more Democrats allowed to
speak. From the presiding officers desk he
complimented the members of the standing
committee on benevolent institutions with all
the art at his command. He said he had chosen
that committee with great prudence and care.
''At no time." he continued, did ! ever have
any suspicion as to the ability and integrity
of any member Of the committee Any
such statement to the contrary, coming
from whatever side it may, from the
majority or minority is raliciously false" He
tread on dangerous ground, and at once started
out to accuse the House committee of being
one organized to carry on the investigation for
partisan purposes His red hot temper began to
boil as he gave his reasons for so believing, one
of which was that the House had refused to LEI
the Senate take part in the investigation.
'Mr President" said Senator Huston
II dons want to be interrupted" remark Cd
the exasperated and exasperating Senator. I'll
you want to discuss this matter, II! take the
floor"
Il simply wanted to ask question: remarked
Senator Huston.
ASK your question, them
do you know that the House, said Senator
Huston, ever refused to enter into joint in
} vestigation2'
ssBy everything that was indecent and by i'm
plication it did" He then sought to help Sena
tor French out by saying that he regarded tn,
motion to reconsider the vote on the Shively
| resolution as one that would impede the investi
CATION. and he would not allow that If he coult
help it. "The question is," said no, closint
abruptly, whether the Senate shall accept tn,
designations Of the gentlemen of the standin!
committee benevolent institutions. They
ought not to be accepted, and the Senate shouls
reject them. All in favor of accept
l ing their designations will say aye
There was loud and earnest respons
from a score of voices ''Al opposed
say no, ''and solitary negative response cam
from the front row of desks For once th
. North Vernon statesman was ratified, and TO
9 | once he dared not make arbitrary ruling t
suit his purposes and those of his clique It wa
too much for his audacity to proclaim rejection
{ | of the designations with but ono vote to supper